We use cookies on this website. By continuing to use this site without changing your cookie settings, you agree that you are happy to accept our privacy policy and for us to access our cookies on your device.
Transcript/ScriptUSAGM SHARE
PLAYBOOK SLUG: Canadian Volunteer Kharkiv – Kosstutschenko
HEADLINE: Canadian volunteer helps displaced Ukrainians from hard-hit areas
TEASER:
PUBLISHED: 05/xx/2024 at
BYLINE: Anna Kosstutschenko
CONTRIBUTOR:
DATELINE: Kharkiv Region, Ukraine
VIDEOGRAPHER: Pavel Suhodolskiy
VIDEO EDITOR: Pavel Suhodolskiy
SCRIPT EDITORS: KEnochs; Reifenrath
VIDEO SOURCE (S): VOA, Story Hunter
PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB __ TV _X_ RADIO __
TRT: 3:08
TYPE: TVPKG
VID APPROVED BY: KE
VIDEO FOR REFERENCE:
((INTRO:))
[[Paul Hughes, a former hockey coach from Canada, arrived in Kharkiv in March 2022. In the two years since, he and other volunteers — some local, some foreign — have been helping Ukrainians internally displaced by the war survive. Anna Kosstutschenko has his story.]]
((NATS)) ((Hughes on cam)) ((ENG))
“I call it harDkiv. It's hard. It's a hard city. Like, it's a strong city!”
((NARRATION))
Canadian Paul Hughes came to Kharkiv in early March 2022 to help Ukrainians directly impacted by the war. He started a nonprofit NGO called Helping Ukraine – Grassroots Support, or HUGS, to provide humanitarian aid to the region's residents.
((Paul Hughes, HUGS Founder)) ((ENG))
“One, we run a garage that repairs volunteer vehicles. Two, we run the SMART program. That's an acronym for Sports, Music, Art, Rec and Tech. So, we're trying to help IDP kids that live in shelters in Kupyansk and Liman, and Bakhmut, and Kramatorsk, and Konstantinivka – all these different places, Izium.”
((NARRATION))
((Mandatory courtesy: Paul Hughes))
Hughes is from Calgary. He served in the Canadian Armed Forces and later founded a hockey academy where he worked as a coach. In 2011, he started one of Canada's largest public urban farms, Grow Calgary, dedicated to growing produce for individuals experiencing food insecurity.
((End courtesy))
Hughes has been working in Kharkiv since shortly after the Russian invasion — and says he plans to stay until the war is over.
((Paul Hughes, HUGS Founder)) ((ENG))
“Our organization is called ‘Helping Ukraine’, not ‘Leaving Ukraine’”
((NATS)) ((Hughes meeting some teens))
((Huges)) ((ALL ENG))
“And your name?”
“Sveta, Kupyansk”
“Yulia, Kupyansk”
“Nastya, Kupyansk”
((NARRATION))
Together with other volunteers, Hughes helps internally displaced children and teens from destroyed villages and cities with humanitarian aid.
Nathaniel Sanders, a prosecutor from the U.S. state of Utah, is here for the fifth time. His first visit was in July 2022. He met Hughes in Kharkiv and now helps him. Thanks to knowing a bit of Russian, he says he was able to relate to what was happening in Ukraine on an even deeper level.
((Nathaniel Sanders, Volunteer)) ((ENG))
“Hearing the voices of the people fleeing the invasion, who were from the east of Ukraine, so mostly Russian-speaking, I understood what they were saying.”
((NARRATION))
An American and International Legion fighter who goes by the call name Kozak sometimes helps entertain IDP children. He is taking a short break before heading back to the front lines. He didn’t share his name or show his face for security reasons.
Kozak says now that the U.S. has agreed to send aid, things are looking up for Ukraine's Armed Forces.
((Kozak, International Legion)) ((ENG))
“Not getting aid, and America really dragging their feet on that hurt a lot. There's a lot of ammo shortages and stuff. But now it's getting back on track. So, I think we're going to be able to stop them.”
((NARRATION))
After playing in the park, the kids return to the HUGS hub to grab some treats. As they get ready to go, an air raid siren starts blaring, but they don’t pay much attention. This is the new normal.
((Anna Kosstutschenko, VOA News, Kharkiv region, Ukraine))
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
Subtitles / Dubbing AvailableNo
NetworkVOA
Embargo DateJune 7, 2024 08:55 EDT
BylineAnna Kosstutschenko
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English
